By Honorary Reporter Ing Yeen Oh from Malaysia
Photos = Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur

The year-end ceremony for online supporters was held on Dec. 5 at the Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, recognizing them for promoting Korean culture.

Launched in 2015, the program has grown steadily with 100 members this year. Thirty-five of them attended the ceremony with 10 awardees in five categories: K-beauty, K-drama, K-food, K-tourism and K-pop.

The honor of Best Online Supporter for K-Food was presented to the author. Prizes included Samsung Electronics devices, beauty products and round-trip tickets to Korea for the top two supporters.

Ambassador to Malaysia Yeo Seung-bae thanked the supporters and stressed the role of public participation in strengthening bilateral cultural exchange. "Each of you is like a jambatan (Malay word for "bridge") connecting our communities," he said. "You are like our goodwill ambassadors."

He added that a Korean Culture Center will open in Kuala Lumpur in the second half of next year, urging the supporters to visit it.

With his three-year term in Malaysia coming to a close, the diplomat said, "Even before coming to Malaysia, I was told that K-culture was popular here, but didn't realize just how deeply and widely. My goal has always been to reach as many Malaysians as possible not only in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, but in other states as well."

All supporters received a certificate of appreciation and prizes went to the winners, followed by short presentations from the top supporters and the announcement of the awards in the five categories.

Popular Korean dishes were served like Korean fried chicken, gimbap (seaweed rice rolls) and tteokbokki (spicy rice cake).

The ceremony's conclusion saw supporters and embassy staff exchange thanks and farewells.

jcy0531@korea.kr

*This article was written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.